Post by Ned on Feb 15, 2013 15:48:42 GMT -5

Average player comes out as gay, then retires. At 25, he's way too young to be hanging up the boots. He easily could keep playing on in the MLS or lower leagues in Europe, but he must feel that he wouldn't be able to keep his personal life removed from his career. Too bad really.

EDIT: this tweet sums up my feelings rather well.

Eddie Pope, who played in three World Cups for the United States and is now the director of player relations for the MLS Players Union, tweeted: "@robbierogers Brave men like you will make it so that one day there's no need for an announcement.That day can't arrive soon enough.#Support"

Post by Ned on Mar 19, 2013 20:57:43 GMT -5

Interesting article that draws from anonymous(!) player sources to paint a not entirely flattering picture of the Klinsy era. Some of this is akin to spoiled kids complaining to their parents about their high school coach because he isn't giving them the playing time they desire.

Post by jakicker on Apr 20, 2013 11:12:53 GMT -5

I think the third and fourth spots in the EPL are going to come down to the final week. Spurs can help decide their fate after tomorrows match against City as a win would put them ahead of the Gunners by a point with five to play. Chelsea is the most likely to get in, but they have the toughest remaining schedule.

Post by jakicker on Apr 21, 2013 23:03:24 GMT -5

As a spurs fan, great great results today. Spurs and chelsea both have a game on arsenal and both should win easily. If they both do, then arsenal errol be in fifth, spurs fourth, and chelsea third. Chelsea have the toughest remaining schedule as they must face spurs, united, and everton in their final five. Spurs have chelsea and four easier matches. Arsenal has united and three easy matches. It's anyones game

Post by tackitt on May 25, 2013 16:20:38 GMT -5

Ned you catch the final? Pretty great game, but can you explain to me how Dante doesn't pick up a second yellow on that penalty? Though that was going to be a straightforward red after he already had the first yellow.

Post by Ned on Jun 6, 2013 18:41:29 GMT -5

Ned you catch the final? Pretty great game, but can you explain to me how Dante doesn't pick up a second yellow on that penalty? Though that was going to be a straightforward red after he already had the first yellow.

Sorry, I forgot about this. Basically, what I took away from the decision was that regardless of the clumsiness of the challenge, the referee decided there wasn't any degree of cynicism or ill intention to it. Poor challenges in the box do not in and of themselves merit yellow cards. As you can see from this .gif, the ball was there to be won, and Dante just went in clumsily.

Post by tackitt on Jun 7, 2013 11:49:16 GMT -5

Ned you catch the final? Pretty great game, but can you explain to me how Dante doesn't pick up a second yellow on that penalty? Though that was going to be a straightforward red after he already had the first yellow.

Sorry, I forgot about this. Basically, what I took away from the decision was that regardless of the clumsiness of the challenge, the referee decided there wasn't any degree of cynicism or ill intention to it. Poor challenges in the box do not in and of themselves merit yellow cards. As you can see from this .gif, the ball was there to be won, and Dante just went in clumsily.

I see your point. In the moment, I thought I saw him go studs up, and having the first yellow already I figured he'd get a second pretty quick. Great final either way. Dortmund was really impressive.

Post by Ned on Jun 7, 2013 12:00:14 GMT -5

Sorry, I forgot about this. Basically, what I took away from the decision was that regardless of the clumsiness of the challenge, the referee decided there wasn't any degree of cynicism or ill intention to it. Poor challenges in the box do not in and of themselves merit yellow cards. As you can see from this .gif, the ball was there to be won, and Dante just went in clumsily.

I see your point. In the moment, I thought I saw him go studs up, and having the first yellow already I figured he'd get a second pretty quick. Great final either way. Dortmund was really impressive.

I don't consider that studs up really. His boot was knee level and he was swinging his leg (awkwardly) rather than thrusting it with the studs forward. I admittedly also tend to sympathize with center backs on challenges, being one myself.

The exodus of the most skilled players from Dortmund bums me out. The Bundesliga had been showing signs of increasing parity and entertainment if you look at the past five years -not just this past season- and Bayern aim to ruin that by having limitless funds and a tradition that almost all German players are unwaveringly drawn to.

Post by tackitt on Jun 7, 2013 12:09:59 GMT -5

I don't consider that studs up really. His boot was knee level and he was swinging his leg (awkwardly) rather than thrusting it with the studs forward. I admittedly also tend to sympathize with center backs on challenges, being one myself.

The exodus of the most skilled players from Dortmund bums me out. The Bundesliga had been showing signs of increasing parity and entertainment if you look at the past five years -not just this past season- and Bayern aim to ruin that by having limitless funds and a tradition that almost all German players are unwaveringly drawn to.

Yeah I just saw a report about them and Lewandowski. The league was only benefiting from that type of parity IMO, and it looks like you're correct, Bayern will look to throw that right down the tubes.

Post by tackitt on Jun 7, 2013 12:24:03 GMT -5

Hah, I figured as much. Just wasn't sure how he was at like, calling the game when there isn't as much action* going on or whatever you want to call it.

*By this I mean if someone like me is watching and doesn't really understand the intricacies of the game.

I don't remember the name of the color guy he had with him for the final, but he worked well with him. He doesn't necessarily try to impart wisdom where he knows he doesn't have any, which is refreshing. He's very good about letting the game come to him...and then exploding dramatically.

Post by Ned on Jun 7, 2013 12:26:09 GMT -5

Big day for the Gus Johnson experiment today as he's calling the Man U - Real Madrid game at 3 EST. I'm going to try as hard as possible to give him a fair shot before muting the game.

How's this going? Don't really know d*ck about soccer but curious as to how this ends up.

He's gotten some pretty poor reception, especially on social media. I haven't read any critiques of him or anything. I don't know if any are even out there.

Personally, I don't think he's terrible. It's not like games are rendered unwatchable when he's commenting, but I do end up chuckling a few times per game at strange missteps. Fox Soccer and its producers apparently think that their key demographic should be people just getting into the game. Thus, I think they prompt Gus to try and associate with this demographic. He will ask questions of whichever English color commentator he is with mid-action such as, "Hey Warren, can you explain the term 'playing the advantage for me'?" It is irritating, but overall he does a good job describing the play and remaining as unobtrusive as possible. There's always times when he maxes out the mic volume a la his March Madness calls though.

I just am puzzled why they don't hire commentators who have grown up in and around the game. Forcing American commentators to learn it is counter intuitive.

Post by Ned on Aug 14, 2013 10:28:27 GMT -5

I guess it's points? I don't even think there's a draft, near as I can tell you get a budget and use that budget to create the best team possible. I think.

Yeah you build your squad, and then your players' values will fluctuate up and down over the course of the season based on performance and demand based algorithms. You get one free transfer per week so you can make the most of the value changes.

As far as the league goes, there are two settings - total points: in which the cumulative points leader of the whole season would be named champion, and head to head: which is the traditional weekly match up between someone else in your league. I'm a fan of total points, but head to head keeps people interested for longer. It is a 38 week or so season, so you tend to get people who stop maintaining their squad.